Quarry Fest 2015 Artist Interview: 5th Ace

Not all bands are in it for the same reasons. Some go for the fame and others do it because they have a good time.

Toledo, OH cover band, 5th Ace, is made up of Brian Taylor (Vocals), Shawn Truman (Bass), Charlie Morrin (Drums), and Nick Hoover (Guitar). The guys have the fun of playing only the best songs from the 70s all the through the 90s and beyond. Even as busy as they are, Shawn took a few minutes to talk about the Quarry Fest 2015 show and a few other things.

NRR: You guys are from the Toledo, OH area and have been pretty active recently. What’s been going on with the band in the last year?

Shawn Truman: We’ve been real busy, but the biggest thing was the opening for Tom Kiefer of Cinderella on May 29, 2015, opening up Ohio Bike Week!

NRR: Hopefully you guys have a great time on stage to close out this strange summer. Are you looking forward to anything in particular at Quarry Fest 2015?

Shawn Truman: I guess in retrospect playing at Clearwater, where back in the 70s, acts like Bob Segar played there so it’s the prestige being on the same stage as him!

NRR: How does a band like 5th Ace get in on a show that is still a pretty new show, as far as festivals might go, here in pretty much your backyard, Ohio?

Shawn Truman: I book all of our shows minus a few and it takes hard work and dedication…

NRR: Fair enough. Talk to me about the band: how did you guys come together, anything special behind your name, etc?

Shawn Truman: The name of the band was picked outta a hat back in the 90s and it was the cheater’s card. But as for the members they’ve changed over the years. The guys I have now are by far the best musicians I’ve ever jammed with, best friends!

NRR: Do you guys only do covers, or do you have original material as well to play at shows?

Shawn Truman: Not all covers, we are a bar band and if we did original songs… crickets.

NRR: Okay! What can we expect from 5th Ace in the coming days after Quarry Fest is again eagerly awaited to, hopefully, come around again in 2016?

Shawn Truman: Oh, we’ll always be here! Toledo is our home and we’ll be busy all winter.

5th Ace – Enter Sandman 02/15/2014

NRR: What are some of the musical influences that help you guys pick which songs or bands you may cover?

Shawn Truman: I’m a KISS fan and we normally pick songs the crowd likes. Over the last four years, I’ve asked a lot of people what they’d like to hear!

NRR: How important is selling merch for a band like 5th Ace at a show like this, or does not that not play as much as a roll for a band like yours?

Shawn Truman: It’s not that important to us but if they want a shirt or hat its always cool. We don’t push the merchandise.

NRR: For anyone that might not have seen you perform before, what can they expect to get from your set on stage?

Shawn Truman: Intensive, in your face, loud, rock n roll! No statues.

NRR: What’s been the show that leaves a smile on your collective faces when you tell people we play with X?

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About The Author

After getting the photo bug in the far, past days of black and white film, Erich continued to develop his eye for photography which lead to stops in the sporting, art, wedding, and eventually concert music worlds. Now, doing more writing for National Rock Review, he has entered into the journey of getting to know the artists and the industry, not just the faces on the other side of the lens.